Hatzola Ambulance Attack

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McCarthy asked about the measures taken to prevent such attacks on emergency services in Jewish communities, expressing concern over the safety of Hatzola volunteers and their equipment.

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Thomas-Symonds questioned how effective current public order laws are in preventing hate crimes, especially those with an antisemitic motive.

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McCabe inquired about the steps being taken by the police force specifically directed towards identifying and addressing potential threats to Jewish communities.

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The MP expressed deep concern over the rise of antisemitism, referencing recent incidents including the murder at Heaton Park synagogue and the Hamas attack in October. He urged for stronger measures against Islamist extremism, such as removing foreign nationals expressing extremist views under section 3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971. Philp also suggested using intrusive surveillance powers to prevent antisemitic attacks.

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MP Catherine West expressed gratitude for the urgent actions taken post the attack, thanking local authorities and partners like the police for their immediate response. She highlighted the support messages being sent out to the Jewish community.

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MP Luke Taylor expressed sympathy for those affected by the attack and emphasised the need for immediate safety measures for local residents. He urged for meaningful interventions before such crimes happen, focusing on antisemitism as a major issue in the UK. He also questioned the Government's decision to cut police numbers and called for more officers to be deployed.

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Asked for more information on coordination between police and community organisations to reassure the Jewish community.

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Called for unity in condemning antisemitism and praised Jewish communities as being very successful immigrants.

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Asked if the Minister would support CST's work.

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Raised concerns about Jewish community feeling less safe and whether antisemitism is taken as seriously as other forms of racism.

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Highlighted Hatzola's essential role in health service support and asked for more information on the cohesion strategy.

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Suggested a 'sea change' in protecting Jewish communities beyond incremental changes.

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Asked for reassurance on Government actions to keep Harlow's Jewish community safe.

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Asked for further steps in education to promote tolerance and addressed antisemitism on university campuses.

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Alongside many inside the House and outside it, I condemn the attack on the Jewish-run ambulance service in Golders Green. The Minister has spoken about community cohesion, but will he outline what immediate steps are being taken to reassure communities like mine?

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What happened at Golders Green this morning was simply sickening and abhorrent. Will the Minister assure me that he is working with police forces right across the United Kingdom and doing everything possible to share information and seek co-operation when required?

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This was an appalling antisemitic incident targeting those providing urgent medical care. Will the Minister outline what immediate steps are being taken to reassure the Jewish community across the whole United Kingdom?

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The people who carry out such attacks are mainly seeking to terrorise the target community. Can we spare a moment to pay tribute to those members of the Muslim community who bravely go undercover to infiltrate plots of this sort?

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May I express my solidarity and the solidarity of all Rochdalians with Britain’s Jewish community? Does the Minister agree that Ofcom needs to take much tougher action against antisemitism online?

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Does the Minister agree with members of the Jewish community who think hate marches increase the risk of antisemitic attacks, and if he does, will he ban them?

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He rightly spoke of the importance of strong and decisive action to tackle the torrent of antisemitism. When will we see concrete implementation milestones for the Government’s ‘Protecting What Matters’ action plan?

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These despicable attacks have been claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. Do the Government share that assessment, and if so, when will they finally proscribe the IRGC?

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We should not be surprised by the attacks that happened in Golders Green last night. Does that not set the atmosphere that Jewish people are a target because they are doing things that are evil and wrong?

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This was a horrific attack on the Jewish community. While Jewish communities experience disproportionately high levels of antisemitic incidents, offences targeting Jewish victims are statistically far less likely to result in prosecution. Does the Minister accept that the Jewish community does not trust that the law will work to protect them?

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My thoughts are with the Jewish community in north London. There is something particularly abhorrent about the destruction of ambulances, and actions motivated by extreme hatred must be condemned. No one anywhere should be made to feel at risk because of their race or religion. How are risks to the wider Jewish community, particularly those communities that are perhaps scattered or individual families or even individuals, being assessed at present—this is of course relevant to Wales—because so many people feel at risk?

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In a previous incarnation, I was fortunate enough to be a parliamentary candidate in Hackney. I was invited to meet Hatzola in Stamford Hill, and I was blown away by its incredible work. The fact that Hatzola is integrated into the London ambulance service and provides such a vital community resource is extremely commendable, and I pay tribute to it. I am conscious that emergency workers are incredibly vulnerable at the best of times. Given that Hatzola is liveried and clearly marked as effectively Jewish, what steps is the Minister taking to mitigate the additional vulnerabilities of the Hatzola crews going forward to ensure that they are not targeted in any type of copycat attacks?

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I welcome the additional support that the Government are providing to our Jewish community. As a Muslim, I know how reassured the Muslim community was by Government support following arson attacks at a mosque. One of the biggest problems is on social media, particularly X, where extreme antisemitic remarks have been made about this incident. We know that this voluntary ambulance service supports not just the Jewish community but all communities. The perpetrators of this abhorrent and callous act must be apprehended. Does the Minister agree that it is important to expedite their apprehension so as to send a message of deterrence that says an attack on any community member or community asset is an attack on every single person in this country?

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Among the many reviews that he cited, the Minister mentioned Jonathan Hall’s review, which is getting a bit long in the tooth. Surely, given the events in north London and the middle east this month, its recommendations should now be expedited, as there appears to be cross-party support for the concept that the IRGC should be proscribed. Why can the Wagner Group—a state-linked entity—be proscribed, but the IRGC cannot, even without changing the Terrorism Act?

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I thank the Minister very much for his statement, and for assuring Jewish people across the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that we stand with them and that they are in our prayers. No one has any doubts about the Government’s commitment to standing alongside the Jewish diaspora, but this latest antisemitic attack shows the depth of depravity that those who hate Jews will sink to even today. The symbolism of an attack on ambulances for the sick and vulnerable cannot be lost on anyone. It is clear that Government steps to combat antisemitism do not go far enough, so what meaningful steps will the Minister take to support the Jewish community, whose only crime is to exist in Britain? They are British citizens, and they deserve full support from their Government.